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Life of St Wilfrid
Eddius Stephanus, tr. Colgrave, 1927
63. [708?]
And so our holy bishop lived to the joy of his friends and in perfect peace and all those matters, which previously he seemed to men to have left undone, he completely settled during the year and a half after his illness. A short time before his ever-memorable and blessed death, he ordered his treasurer to open his treasury at Ripon in the presence of two abbots and some very faithful brethren, eight in number altogether, whom he had invited, and to put out in their sight all the gold, silver and precious stones; and he bade the treasurer divide it into four parts, according to his direction. Without delay the treasurer obeyed the words of the holy father, and thus completed his task.
Our holy bishop then said to these faithful witnesses: “Dearest brethren, know this thought of mine which I have long since had in mind, that I should again visit the see of the holy Apostle Peter where I have so often been delivered from trouble and should there end my life, God willing. I intended to take with me the best of the four portions of this treasure to offer gifts in the churches of the Saints; to carry presents to the church dedicated to St Mary the Mother of the Lord; and to offer gifts to St Paul the Apostle for the welfare of my soul. But since God has provided for me otherwise, as often happens to old men, and the day of my death has overtaken me, I bid you, my faithful brethren, in the name of Jesus Christ, to send messengers to carry my gifts to the churches I have named. Of the other three parts, divide one among the poor of my people for the redemption of my soul: the second part let the heads of the two oft-mentioned abbeys divide among themselves so that they may be able to purchase the friendship of kings and bishops. The third part you are to share among those who have laboured and suffered long exile with me and to whom I have given no lands and estates; distribute it according to the needs of each man so that they may have the means to maintain themselves after I have departed.”
After a space of time he spoke once again to the faithful witnesses: “Remember, brethren, that I appoint as head over this monastery at Ripon this Tatberht the priest. He is my kinsman and has been up till now my inseparable companion; while I live he is to rule with me and after my death he is to possess it without any question. I make these decrees in order that, when the Archangel Michael visits me, he may find me prepared; for many signs of death gather round me.”